Numbering machine



March 30, 1943. 4 A. s. RIESENBERGER NUMBERING MACHINE Filed May 12, 1942 INVENTOR flwr/mdi/zszwaifia'ii ATTORNEY5 l= V///// ///i Patented Mar. 3%, 1943 omen STATES PATEN OFFICE N UMBERING MACHINE Austin G. Riescnberger, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to Wetter Numbering Machine 00., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New Yfork A pl ati n May 1 9 2, Ser al No- 44. 2587 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to numbering machines and more particularly to improvements in the construction of the movable type block or drop cipher employed therewith and the bearing arrangement therefor. It is specially designed to produce a materially strengthened construction having greater bearing areas and more efficient distribution of the bearing surfaces. As a result, a more durable structure is obtained with substantial elimination of the tilting and .displacement from the printing plane of the drop cipher as has been common to the devices of this type after long or extended use. This displacement resulting from wear has heretofore been the most prolific source of trouble for as will be Fig. 2 is a vertical, cross-sectional view thereof taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, having a portion of the ratchet broken away and showing the dropcipher block supported in printing position.

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the drop-cipher block in its depressed, non-printing position.

Fig. 4 is a view of the assembled number wheel, movable type block and ratchet as viewed from theside opposite that shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fi 5 is a vertical, sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. i.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the assembled parts shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a view in side elevation of a; portion of the numbers wheel showing the guideway slot formation, and

Fig. 8 is a View in perspective showing the movable type block formation.

The approved embodiment of the features of the present invention is here shown incorporated in a consecutive type numbering machine as commonly employed for automatic numbering and having a movable type block associated with each of the type or number wheels above the units wheel and adapted to be depressed below the plane of print as is usual in the machines of this type. As shown, the machine comprises a suitable frame or bearing block I in which is supported the horizontal, stationary shaft 2. The number wheels 3 are mounted to rotate on the shaft 2 and are provided each with a ratchet wheel 5. The ratchet wheels are engaged by graduated pawls 6 carried by a swinging pawl frame I. Oscillating movement is imparted to the latter through suitable connections from a spring supported vertically movable, actuating plungerB vertically movable in the frame I. The usual spring pressed holding pawls are provided to engage the ratchet wheels of the several 'numbers Wheels. Th numbers wheels and actuating device in so far as referred to are of conventional and well known type and maybe varied in form .and arrangement to meet the specific requirements.

Inaccordance with the present inventioryeach of the numbers wheels (with'the exception of the units .wheel as is customary) is formed to provide .bearing .for and to receive a movable type block or drop-cipher type block, commonly referred to as a drop-cipher, in an improved structural arrangement designed to contribute materially to the strength, firmness and security of support and resistance to wear or durability in maintaining proper printing alignment of the drop cipher as hereinbefo're referred to. As shown, the numbers wheels are formed with radially and ansularly disposed guideway and bearing slots I 2, the longitudinal axis of which is substantially tangent to the central bearing for the Shaft 2. As best shown in Fig. 7,the sl0ts l2, initially milled out, are inachined'through the wheel/from one side to leave the connecting web or retaining bar .14, transversely spanning the slot atone side :thereof and positioned intermediate of the shaft bearing and the perimeter of the wheel. Likewise, at the same side of the type Wheel, left as shown in Fig. 5, an integral wall I5 is left in the milling operation, the upper surface of which is formed to provide a stop and bearing shoulder for the drop-cipher block when in re-- tracted position. The underside of the shoulder 20' of the drop cipher block also engages bar I l and acts similarly as a stop.

The drop-cipher block 16 of improved form is of general rhomboidal form having its parallel side walls l'l-IB closely fitted to the guideway or slot l2 and having at one side thereof an elongated, transverse slot 20 freely to receive therein the retaining bar M of the wheel. The innermost end of the drop-cipher block is formed with a curved bearing portion 2| complemental in curvashown. The other side wall'25 of the slot 22 provides a shoulder to co-act with an inclined shoulder or detent 26 formed on the movable block l6 by forming of a groove 21 inthe side thereof asshown. With the construction, asde-L scribed, the advance rotation of. the typ'ef or numf bers wheel, counter-clockwise from thep'rinting position shown in Fig. 2 will upon registration a of the shoulder 26 with the groove 22 permit depression of the movable block into inner or nonprinting position and upon .slight reverse or clockwise rotation, the retaining detent 26' is brought into the positionof Fig. 3 wherein by engagement with the wall 26 the block is secured or locked against outward movement. It is thereby withheld from the printing plane 'until its carrying wheel is rotated in its sequence feed as is well understood. i

In the improved construction shown, the dropcipher block is assembled upon the numbers wheelfrom the ratchet side thereof, with the V groove receiving-therein the connecting web or bar [4 and upon then securing of the ratchet 5 in position, the drop-cipher block is permanently retained in its operative position within thev guideway slot l2 by its interlocked engagement with the integral web of the wheel. Theratchets 5 are, as shown, secured to the wheels 5 by ta-. pered pins 30 having, a force fit within the receiving apertures. The web M, in addition to securingthe movable .type, also actsas a stop to determine the limit of movement of theblock [6 by engagement with the upper and lower wall oftheslotZiL- J V The improved bearing arrangement, it will be noted, providesfor a maximum of. bearing'area engagement for the block IS. with the side walls I1 and |8;,full,width bearing atthe foot of-the drop-cipher, block thus giving a maximumnof bearing upon the, shaftand lateral supporting engagement forthe cipher block with the faces of the ratchets at .opposite sidesw In printing position the perimeter of the. shaft .2 forces the drop-cipher block-upward and looks it against the bottom of bar l4, eliminating any movement. The improved bearing arrangement accordingly more successfully meets the exacting-requirementsfor a more durableand accurately supported drop-cipherblock as is essential to good printing operation. The strengthened bearing construction eliminates, to a substantial degree,

the objectionable deformation of the movable type or displacement thereof such as to impair its printing accuracy or efficiency.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a numbering machine, the combination of a slotted supporting shaft, a numbers-wheel mounted to be rotatable on the shaft and formed 10 with an outwardly directed guideway slot formed at one side with a bar spanning the slot, a movable type block slidably fitted within said guideway slot and having an enlarged groove formed in one side thereof to receive said bar and formed with bearing portions engaging the guideway and the supporting shaft for the full thickness of the wheel and a ratchet secured to the wheel and effective to retain the movable type block in assembled position.

' 2. In a numbering machine, the combination of a slotted supporting shaft, a numbers-wheel mounted to rotate thereon and .formedwith an outwardly directed guideway slot formed at one side with a bar spanning the slot, a movable type block slidably fitted within said slot and having an enlarged groove formed in one side thereof to receive said bar and a ratchet secured to the numbers wheel at the side opposite from the bar and operative to retain the movable block in position. I

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a, slotted supporting shaft, a numbers-wheel mounted to rotate thereon and formed with an outwardly directed guideway slot formed .at one side with an integral bar spanning the slot intermediate of the shaft bearing and thewheel periphery, a, drop-cipher block slidably fitted in the guideway slot and having an enlarged groove in one side thereof to receive 40 the bar and having parallel bearing portions engaging the guideway and an arcuate bearing portion to engage the shaft, said bearing portions being extended the full thickness of thewheel and a ratchet secured to the wheel and effective to retain the drop cipher block in assembled position.

4. In a drop cipher typographic numbering machine, the combination of a slotted shaft, a numbering wheel having a substantially radial cipher block receiving slot formedfrom one side and having on the other side a narrow, transverse bar between the shaft bearing and the wheel perimeter, a drop cipher block of'the full thickness of the wheel and having on one side between the ends thereof a slot slidably to enclose said bar and a ratchet secured to the wheeland retaining the drop cipher block in assembled position.

V AUSTIN G. RIESENBERGERV 

